It’s a feeling hard to describe. Difficult unless you’ve been there, been on the floor, the sidelines, in the dressing room walking under the bleachers of Harbour Station. Hearts pound, adrenaline flows and suddenly, it is game on.

So many emotions will be a part of what young student-athletes and their coaches will experience when the bright lights of the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association come on at the crown jewel of uptown Saint John to decide interscholastic championships at the AAA, AA and A levels.

The two days of jam-packed action covers Feb. 24 to 25 at the arena which is connected to Saint John’s core with its well-used pedway system allowing for easy player and fan access from hotels or restaurants or just some good old-fashioned shopping.

Team practices for the participating AAA schools will begin the morning of Friday, Feb. 24, but those are closed to the public as players prepare to get used to the expansiveness of playing in the large arena setting with different backdrops.

The annual banquet will be held at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John at 11:45 a.m. for players, coaches and invited guests and then it’s time to focus on two games to kick off the celebration of high school hoops with the AAA classification.

The girls’ AAA teams open things at 6:30 p.m. and the boys’ teams follow at 9 p.m.

Four games hit the hardwood on Saturday, Feb. 25. There are practice sessions beginning at 9 a.m. for the AA and A entrants, once again, closed to the public. The A girls’ championship unfolds at 1 p.m. and the boys’ A clash is set for 3:30 p.m. The curtain will come down with the AA championship games including girls at 6 p.m. and boys at 8:30 p.m.

The entire celebration of high school basketball remains in Saint John on Sunday, Feb. 26 with the all-star game for boys and girls. They will be played this year at the University of New Brunswick Saint John. Details and rosters will be released closer to the event.

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